I have a '97 SL500 and am about to change out the 225-55-ZR16 tires. I have Michelin XGTs on right now and wanted to know if there are any other brands which don't make as much noise yet have excellent wet/dry traction.

5 years ago I put Fulda Extremo Carats on my SL320.Very nice look,nice ride,very nice price.Fulda is the #1 tire in germany used on the Autobahn.A division of Goodyear.Sold now by Tire Kingdom,NTB, I am also hearing good things about the ToyoF4s.They are advertized in the Star Magazine and I know a couple of people in the MBCA who are using them are are reporting excellent ride,handling,and low noise characteristics.But after 5 years the Fulda tires have begun to have tread separation on the inside causing the tire to wobble while driving.A dangerous situation.Since they are 5 years old,NTB would not give any warranty even though I had the bumper to bumper warranty on the tires.So my advice is to stick with Michelin,Continentals,Pirelli,or Bridgestone Potenza.For a nice less expensive tire try Kumho Ectra ASC .Remember the SL320 is a heavy car so get the 95W rating.I think that translates to 1521 pounds.I think I have narrowed my choice down to the Michelin pilot sports A/S for the price at Tire Rack.At $109 per tire it is hard to beat.The Pilot sport A/S plus is the newer version but is $167.00 each.I know that the Potenza 960 pole position are rated #2 after Michelin by tire rack and Pirelli P zero number 3.Good luck to all

Last edited by SL3204me; 08-15-2009 at 12:44 PM.
Reason: new info on tires

Read one of my previous posts regarding the SP2s, apparently, they are too new and obtaining a complete set that will balance correctly is difficult. To date, I donâ€™t know anyone confident enough to use them, though, they do look promising.

From a performance perspective, locally we use the entrance ramp to North bound I-275 from Highway 60 (from Tampa International Airport) as depicted in the attached file named â€œwestshore ramp.jpg.â€? This is a two lane entrance ramp (approximately 270 degrees, positive bank, and inclined) in which you can pull a lot of Gs.

I thought that I'd repost this from the "General MB" forum.

With good tires, you can hold the turn pretty well entering the turn at 40 to 60 MPH. With better tires, you can enter faster, and, impressively, accelerate out of the apex of the turn. With even better tires, you can perform all of the above and change lanes!

Anyone who enjoys this type of â€œadrenalin rushâ€? will appreciate the additional expense of the Michelin Pilot Sports.

I bought Falken Ziex ZE-912 Tire - 225/55R16 95V BSW at Sears. I paid about $450 for four installed.

The Ziex ZE-912 is the next generation in All Season Performance Touring. The hybrid asymmetrical tread pattern provides authentic high-performance grip and genuine touring confidence. Optimized interior and exterior pattern designs ensure that dry performance, stability, and all-season grip are available whenever and wherever you need it.
Infinite sype sequence incorporates heavy full depth sypes throughout the entire tread platform. Countless biting edges dramatically increase traction in winter months while improving overall grip when nature is at its worst. Come rain, shine, sleet, or snow the ZE-912 will deliver you with confidence.
Tread Wear Indicators provide the driver with visual clues to help maximize tire life and overall value. Consistent rotations and inflation pressure management are paramount when safety and confidence are top of mind.
Quad high volume circumferential grooves deliver increased hydroplane resistance for maximum wet stability. Standing water and highway speeds are no match for the ZE-912.

I know, they are not Z - rated, they are V- rated and I'm not planning on going any faster than they are rated for. They grip great and handle all of the "On Ramp Grand Prix" I want to give them. I did have some ballance issues with the original installation, but when I took them into another Sears store thousands of miles away, they calibrated their dynamic ballancer and re-ballanced my tires satisfactorily.

If i lived in Europe and could drive 165 all day long i'd spend the bucks or Euros for the appropriate tires, but as i live here in South dakota where a few sprints North of 125 are all she ever sees I'm perfectly satisfied with these tires.